Travel to Rotterdam

How to Get to Rotterdam

Flying into Rotterdam The Hague Airport

This is the Netherland’s third largest airport, lying just north of Rotterdam. In 2010, the same year the facility’s name was officially changed from Rotterdam Airport to Rotterdam The Hague Airport, approximately 1 million passengers passed through the facility making use of the airport’s numerous international connections. Destinations from Rotterdam The Hague Airport include Munich, London, Barcelona, Budapest, Madrid and Rome, however no intercontinental flights are available.

Getting from Rotterdam The Hague Airport to Rotterdam City Center

Bus 33, operated by RET bus company, departs every 10 minutes towards Rotterdam Centraal. The journey to the city center takes around 20 minutes, with a stop at Meijersplein metro station on the way. From Meijersplein passengers can also take Metro E, the Randstadrail, towards The Hague should this be their destination.
Taxi’s are readily available outside of the airport and cost around 25 Euro for a trip to the central station.
Rental cars from Avis, Europcar, Budget, Hertz, Sixt and Green Motion are also available outside of the terminal.
If required, parking spaces are available at the airport. The airport lies approximately (8km) from the city center so can be quickly reached by car. Exit 11 on road A13 leads towards the airport.

Flying into Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Amsterdam Schiphol is the largest airport in the Netherlands, with services to more than 300 destinations including London, Barcelona, Detroit and New York. The facility also operates as the main hub for airlines KLM, Transavia and Delta. As the country’s largest facility it receives around 53 million visitors a year.

Getting from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Rotterdam City Center

General info about getting to and from the airport

A train station can be found directly under Amsterdam Schiphol station where a direct service to Rotterdam Centraal can be boarded. The journey take approximately 1 hour. There are multiple journeys every hour, some of which will require a change and therefore take longer.
Taxis are readily available from outside of the airport, with a journey to Rotterdam usually costing around 150 Euros due to the 60 kilometers covered for the journey.
If taking advantage of the numerous hire car options at Amsterdam Schiphol take the road A4 and then change to the E19/A13 at Ypenburg to head towards Rotterdam.

Trains to Rotterdam Centraal

Located at the Stationsplein, Rotterdam Centraal is the main train station in the city. The station has recently been refurbished, with the current facility having been opened in 2014. 110,000 passengers journey through the station daily, utilising the stations excellent links with the majority of the Netherlands and international destinations, including the Thalys services to Antwerp and Paris. Bus, metro and tram services also stop here, operated by the companies NS, NS international and RET.

Getting from Rotterdam Centraal to Rotterdam City Center

Rotterdaam Centraal is situated in the city center, so many of the popular attractions and destinations are easily within walking distance. If you require a destination a little further away metro lines D or E (RandstadRail), or tram lines 4, 7, 8, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25 all stop at the station, along with bus numbers 33 and 38. Taxis are also available, should they be required.
For some scenic walking routes through the city the Westersingel, which runs parallel to the Westersingel Canal, and the Coolsingel road are very popular with tourists and residents alike.

Buses to Rotterdam Bus Station Conradstraat (Centraal Station)

This bus station, located very close to the central station on Conradstraat, offers bus services operated by Eurolines and local RET-provided journeys. The station can be found alongside the Albeda College and opposite the TNT post building.

Getting from Rotterdam Bus Station Conradstraat (Centraal Station) to Rotterdam City Center

The city center is walkable from this location, however the train station, local buses, trams and metro lines are also accessible from here, should they be needed.

Buses to Willemsplein Bus Station

This station can be found next to the Erasmus bridge. Services from Megabus operate to and from here.

Getting from Willemsplein Bus Station to Rotterdam City Center

The city center is only a 3 minute walk away however tram lines 20 and 25 operate to the center should they be required. The center is in the direction of the Schiedamsedijk.

Driving to Rotterdam

If driving to Rotterdam follow the motorways A13 (Rotterdam-Delft-The Hague and Amsterdam via A4), A15 (Rozenburg-Rotterdam-Ridderkerk-Nijmegen), A16(Rotterdam-Dordrecht-Breda and Antwerp via A1), A20 Hoek van Holland - Rotterdam - Gouda and Utrecht via A12) or A29 (Rotterdam - Hellegatsplein - Dinteloord). Whilst driving on motorways be aware of ‘trajectcontrole’, zones in which travel time is measured to ensure you are not driving over the speed limits. Rotterdam city center can be accessed by car.

How to Get Around in Rotterdam

Public Transport in Rotterdam

Public transport is extremely efficient and reliable in Rotterdam. Metro, tram, bus, train and several ferry services connect all parts of the city, with services being utilised as much by locals as they are used by visitors. Bus, metro and tram services are operated by RET, whilst train services are operated by NS.
The city center is made up of 14 travel zones, although there are more if you include those that branch out into the suburbs also.
* Public Transport Provider: Mainly RET
* Cost of a Ticket: One hour transport access costs around 3,00 Euros, whilst a day card costs approximately 7,50 Euros. A 3 day card will cost around 16,50 Euros.
* Discounted Ticket Types: On Wednesday afternoons and Sundays a maximum of 3 children can ride for free in the buses of RET when travelling with a paying adult.
* Availability of Public Transport at Night: In Rotterdam BOB-buses run Thursday - Saturday nights from 1:00-7:00 a.m., from many of the popular nightlife destinations. The cost is around 4,50 Euro for a single trip.

Cycling in Rotterdam

As in many Dutch cities, cycling is a very popular form of transport in Rotterdam. The city is well designed to include many cycle lanes making it a safe and accessible space by bike. Guided bike tours and hire bicycles are common. OV-fiets bikes are hire bikes which can often be found at train stations.

• Official Municipal Bike Provider: OV-Fiets
• Rental Costs: 10 euros subscription + 3,15 for a trip (up to 24 hours)

Taxis in Rotterdam

Taxis are commons in Rotterdam, however they often have to be booked in advance and will not often just stop in the street after being hailed. You can find taxi ranks in popular areas such as train stations.Water taxis, known as Maastaxi, are also common. Some popular providers include Rotterdamse Taxi Centrale: (+31 10 462 6060) and Stadstaxi Rotterdam (+31 10 818 2823).

• Base Minimum Fare: Approximately 2,50 Euros.
• Cost: A journey of 10 minutes will cost around 10 Euros.

Driving in Rotterdam

Driving in Rotterdam city center is possible, however visitors should be aware of the numerous one-way systems and speed regulations. Like most cities, avoiding driving during peak or rush hours is advised for those who are not familiar with the inner-city road layout. For parking, the cheapest park and ride areas will be found on the outskirts of the city. These are sometimes free and are usually well connected to the city center via regular public transport. Multi-storey car parks are relatively numerous also, as are street parking options, however the latter may prove to be more expensive with only credit cards being accepted as a form of payment.

Walking Around Rotterdam

Rotterdam is an extremely pedestrian-friendly city, with a large majority of the city and its attractions all within walking distance of one another.

First founded in the 9th century as the settlement of Rotta, the dam was built in 1260. Along with the new construction the word “dam” was added to the city’s name, resulting in Rotterdam’s title as it is known today. In modern times the port of Rotterdam is one of the largest and busiest in Europe. Additionally due to the city center suffering severe destruction in 1940 the area is also known for its modern architecture. The Euromast, skyscrapers and carfree shopping streets have all contributed to the city’s new modernity. The original settlement of Rotta is where you can now find the city center.
The city currently has a population of around 620,000 citizens. Summer is often the busiest season, however the city has year-round appeal.

 Walking Around in Rotterdam

Despite being the second largest city in the Netherlands, you will find that all the main attractions are within walking distance within the city center. Starting at Rotterdam Centraal, you can head south on Mauritsweg towards Eendrachtsplein, where you will be able to admire the infamous Santa Claus statue designed by Paul McCarthy in 2011. Along the Mauritsweg, you will be able to encounter the De Doelen Concert hall, the Huis Sonneveld museum, the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, and the Kunsthal. Once you've passed Eendrachtsplein, you may either continue south towards the Erasmusbrug or turn east to Witte de Withstraat. If you wish to continue south, you will cross the spectacular Erasmus bridge which will take you to Wilhelminaplein where you will find the Luxor Theater and the historical building of Hotel New York, which was once the headquarters of the Holland-America cruise lines. You will also find Katendracht, where the Fenix Food Factory and Theater Walhalla are located. On the other hand, across the Witte de Withstraat, you will encounter countless bars, restaurants and boutiques to enjoy. Continuing east from Witte de Withstraat, you will arrive at Blaak where you can admire the peculiar Kijk-Kubus, stroll through the Markthal, mesmerize at the Laurenskerk, or grab a beer and bitterballen in the Oudehaven (which can also be reached by water taxi from Wilhelminaplein and Katendracht).